Amended law to encourage longer stays in BVI waters
Legislative amendments to the Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (CRVL) Act could see some vessels remaining longer in the BVI’s waters, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley disclosed recently.
Premier Wheatley said the new amendments, which are expected to be moved to the House of Assembly (HOA) soon, are aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the CRVL Act.
Premier Wheatley told the HOA that his government is proposing an extension of the time non-commercial vessels can stay in the BVI’s waters before needing importation.
He said this aligns with global standards, promotes longer visits, and bolsters the BVI’s reputation as a welcoming maritime tourism destination.
The Premier further explained that the ultimate goal is to cement the BVI’s position as a leading maritime jurisdiction in the region.
The core amendments, Premier Wheatley said, encompass a variety of policies designed to streamline vessel categorisation, ensure vessel license integrity, promote the presence of large yachts, strengthen registration requirements, mandate BVI charter origin, and exempt BVI vessels from both cruising permits and import duties.
According to the Premier, the amendments are also designed to strike a balance between regulatory oversight and facilitating a flourishing maritime sector.
One critical amendment to the CRVL Act, the Premier noted, involves changing the expiration dates of CRVL licenses from a uniform October 31 deadline to Legislative amendments to the Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (CRVL) Act could see some vessels remaining longer in the BVI’s waters, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley disclosed recently.
Premier Wheatley said the new amendments, which are expected to be moved to the House of Assembly (HOA) soon, are aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the CRVL Act.
Premier Wheatley told the HOA that his government is proposing an extension of the time non-commercial vessels can stay in the BVI’s waters before needing importation.
He said this aligns with global standards, promotes longer visits, and bolsters the BVI’s reputation as a welcoming maritime tourism destination.
The Premier further explained that the ultimate goal is to cement the BVI’s position as a leading maritime jurisdiction in the region.
The core amendments, Premier Wheatley said, encompass a variety of policies designed to streamline vessel categorisation, ensure vessel license integrity, promote the presence of large yachts, strengthen registration requirements, mandate BVI charter origin, and exempt BVI vessels from both cruising permits and import duties.
According to the Premier, the amendments are also designed to strike a balance between regulatory oversight and facilitating a flourishing maritime sector.
One critical amendment to the CRVL Act, the Premier noted, involves changing the expiration dates of CRVL licenses from a uniform October 31 deadline to an anniversary date expiration.
He said this was aimed at streamlining the renewal process, reducing administrative burdens, and ensuring timely license renewals for vessel operators.
Proposed amendments also aim to update CRVL fees, which have remained unchanged since 1992, by adjusting them to reflect current market rates and inflation, with the goal of establishing administratively efficient fees.
The Premier said his government will conduct a comprehensive public awareness campaign alongside the proposed amendments to the CRVL Act and related laws to inform and engage the public, industry stakeholders, and relevant organisations about the upcoming changes and their importance.
anniversary date expiration.
He said this was aimed at streamlining the renewal process, reducing administrative burdens, and ensuring timely license renewals for vessel operators.
Proposed amendments also aim to update CRVL fees, which have remained unchanged since 1992, by adjusting them to reflect current market rates and inflation, with the goal of establishing administratively efficient fees.
The Premier said his government will conduct a comprehensive public awareness campaign alongside the proposed amendments to the CRVL Act and related laws to inform and engage the public, industry stakeholders, and relevant organisations about the upcoming changes and their importance.
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Another white man law
Blaming the white man for something he’s not even part of. Last time I looked the white man doesn’t make or vote to approve any of these changes. And by the way VINO hire a proof reader!
The final golden bullet for the golden goose.
is beyond amending. An entirely new properly drafted law regulating all the commercial recreational vessels in BVI waters is needed.
at last. long overdue changes in the right direction.
The Premier further explained that the ultimate goal is to cement the BVI’s position as a leading maritime jurisdiction in the region.
You can keep saying this year after year but it wont make it true. There is no jurisdiction in the entire caribbean with a more onerous system than BVI.Have you been to St Martin lately? Its called the friendly islasnd for a reason. The fees here alone have driven off the entire private yacht industry and the only ones left are charter boats. The changes last year and I suspect the proposed ones here are once again aimed at extracting more cash from this industy and do nothing to encourage boats to stay longer.
Your lips are moving but your arent saying anything!
Here we are again responding to the white man’s manner of entitlement, fickle mentality and small ego, who is completely incapable of acknowledging and admitting truths as applied to and of him.
He feels comfortable and in charge on when good and rosy things are said or written about him. All other times he is on the conscious and subconscious defense.
Look at the way they respond to comments not in their favor on this site. It is so clear and clannish the using of the thumbs up and down feature of this site. It is laughable, and most who see, are aware and cognizant do get good laughs.
Post a comment not in favor of the white man or the UK, for example, and watch the comments go virally good. Post one not in favor and watch dragons consume it. It is such a common practice that illustrates the white man’s sense of entitlement and favor.
It is an observed and studied mentality that is contrary, responds in opposition to, and is antithetical to right, wrong and truths.
But in the name of truth, last time every body checked, the white does not have to be in office to create laws. As, he has more power in the halls of power and law making than many lawmakers. That is a whole lot of power to have, but it is the truth.
For, it is a known but covered with white sheets facts, that white men seek out, dine out, feed full bellies of law makers, state their demands and pass the envelope under the table or through other means.
The down side to such a mentality is that the local law maker privately endorses and practices such “favorable who pays the biggest buck corruption,” yesterday, today and on and on. This current group is no less hands and mind unhygenic.
Indeed, they are enablers of corruption in high places. So no, the white man does not have to be in the actual physical halls of power to control the levers of power. It has always bee soin this territory. Money talks. Law makers obey!! Now begin counting the thumbs, down they go!!
What point are you trying to make? other than you have a very fragile, insecure ego and seem threatened and want to make it about color rather than see the big picture. Marine industry is huge. It is an industry that benefits lots. All you see is the people working on boats. What about all the other businesses that work with them? You so hung up on “white man” and you obviously dunno anything about the business.
What are you trying to say? So confused.
Well said! Thumps down by accident
“ strengthen registration process “ That means make it even more complex and inefficient. It is already the most bureaucratic, obstructive , no hurry here , process in the world involving 4 or 5 different agencies.
And the other thing he wants to do is of course increase the costs.
Zero registrations from his recent holiday in Monaco. Theres a surprise.
Have you noticed that virtually none of our our vast charter fleet is registered in BVi ? Thats because of the nightmare that is the shipping registry , customs, trade licensing, the finance ministry and the whole ridiculous process designed to encourage charter boats to register somewhere else.
To encourage boat registration in BVI, it should be the case that BVI registered boats do not need cruising permits and foreign registered boats do.
That would vastly increase the number of boats registered here.